MSOC: NC State Tops Liberty, 4-1
Posted October 31, 2014 3:38 p.m. EDT
Raleigh, N.C. — NC State (7-5-4) men's soccer opened Senior Night with a scoring barrage to down Liberty (8-5-1), 4-1 on Tuesday at Dail Soccer Stadium.
FINDLEY'S TAKE
"I thought we were really high percentage tonight," said NC State head coach Kelly Findley. "We only had six shots in the first half, but three goals. I thought we were pretty clinical, and that put us in a good position from the start of the game. We've had a couple of injuries, and three games in a week, so the guys managed that very well. We got great minutes from a bunch of different players. I was pleased with the team effort."
MOMENTS OF THE MATCH
- The Wolfpack wasted no time, piling up chances early and often. In the fourth minute, the Pack broke through with Reed Norton's third goal of the year. Michael Bajza started the sequence with a free kick to the left post from 35 yards, which Conor Donovan headed back to the right, finding Norton to cement the 1-0 lead.
- In the 21st minute, Bajza made it a three-point night by wresting possession from a Liberty defender on the Flames' half, and rocketing a shot on target from 40. The Liberty keeper managed to get a paw on the strike, but not enough to keep it out of the net, granting State a 2-0 advantage.
- Philip Carmon scored his first goal of the year in the 34th minute, working a give-and-go opportunity with Matt Ingram, whose cross found Carmon at the left post to make it 3-0.
- Liberty trimmed the margin to 3-1 in the 57th minute, but Joe Mills responded with five saves on the night to preserve the Pack's advantage. NC State finished the deal with Yanni Hachem's PK in the 83rd. Ryan Peterson earned the chance, when his chip into the box found a defender's hand. Hachem converted the penalty kick for his third goal of the year, setting the final at 4-1.
